Premier Li Keqiang gave instructions on June 12 concerning the case of four left-behind siblings in Bijie, Guizhou province, who died after drinking pesticide.

He asked for supervision to be stepped up to avoid similar tragedies.

The four siblings, aged between 5 and 13, were left at home without parental supervision.

Premier Li asked relevant departments to ensure that the country’s temporary assistance system is put into place whenever required.

He said relevant departments should make efforts to investigate the inaction of some government officials and punish those responsible.

Such a tragedy should never happen again, the Premier said.